LONDON, July 29, 2024 – Liberal International strongly condemns the Venezuelan regime’s brazenly fraudulent election results, which falsely declare Nicolás Maduro as the winner, allegedly, with 51.20% of the vote. These results, announced by the regime-controlled National Electoral Council (CNE), starkly contradict the voting records from the tables by the unified democratic opposition. The opposition, led by candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and the unjustly disqualified candidate Maria Corina Machado – leader of LI member party Vente Venezuela – reported a decisive victory with 70% of the vote.
LI further calls upon the National Electoral Council (CNE) to release the full results down to the polling division level and to conduct a hand count of all the printed vote slips. This hand count should be done and to do so in a transparent way, complete with independent and international observers.
LI stands firmly with the Venezuelan democratic opposition under the MUD, whose meticulous monitoring of all voting centers aligns with analyses from expert polling firms.
Dr. Hakima el Haite, President of Liberal International, emphasised, “We support the courageous efforts of Maria Corina Machado and Vente Venezuela. The people of Venezuela have spoken clearly in favor of democracy, peace, and against dictatorship. The regime must count all the votes fairly and transparently and respect the will of the people.”
Vlado Mirosevic, from LI full member party Partido Liberal de Chile and President of the Foreign Relations Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, has long denounced the human rights abuses in Venezuela. He stated, “The dictator Maduro must count all the votes and recognise the election results. The eyes of the world are on this election. This could pave the way for a peaceful transition to democracy, a significant breakthrough for Venezuela and the entire continent.”
Felipe Kast, Senator from LI full member party Evopoli, and officially invited as an observer by the opposition, was deported from the regime and has denounced the human rights abuses in Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela. He stated, “We must continue to stand with Edmundo Gonzalez and Maria Corina Machado and the Venezuelan people. Liberals worldwide are united and we have only one voice in defending truth and the will of the people. The Venezuelan people deserve peace, freedom, and democracy. We demand full disclosure of the votes, accountability from international observers, and the right to a recount.”
Understanding and responding to this blatant threat to democracy not just in Venezuela but throughout South America, Liberal International will host its 64th Congress this November in Santiago, Chile. The congress will be held in collaboration with LI’s member parties, Partido Liberal and Evopoli.
For 25 years, the opposition has faced harassment and disqualification, yet they remain at the forefront of the electoral process, representing the widespread discontent among the Venezuelan people due to the dire economic situation.
Liberal International stands in solidarity with the Venezuelan people’s right to freedom, democracy and self-determination. The fight for equality, fraternity, and democracy continues, and the people of Venezuela deserve its freedom from tyranny.
